It wasn’t the strongest first two periods of the season for the Steinbach Pistons, but they came out with more jam in the third, and thanks to timely saves along with massive penalty kills, managed to stave off the Virden Oil Capitals for a 4-3 victory.
Sensational atmosphere
There was a buzz in the Southeast Event Centre as over 2300 people packed the house for a special country-themed evening. Fans were given cowboy hats, and a photo booth was set up for them to take part, with their photos displayed on the big screens.
First period
It was an ideal start for the home side as they got the building rocking with the opening goal coming less than a minute and a half into the game.
Evan Gradt, coming off being named the Pistons player of the month for October, bullied his way into the Oil Caps zone, and despite being surrounded by three Oil Caps, he managed to fight them off, keeping the play alive long enough to hit a streaking Luke Bogart. Bogart walked in and, with Brody Green driving the net, filtered a pass over the 18-year-old sniper, who made no mistake, wiring home his 9th of the year, putting Steinbach on top 1-0.
Bogart, who made the pass, and Gradt, who made the play possible through determination and hard work, both picked up assists.
After giving up the first goal, the Oil Caps took control of the puck and didn’t let Steinbach touch it very often.
Shift after shift, Virden cut off plays in the neutral zone and worked around the offensive zone. But, despite all the time with the puck, the Steinbach defenders did an excellent job keeping things to the outside, for the most part.
Chris Quizi got the start for Steinbach and managed to keep his head on a swivel, battling to keep everything in front of him.
Steinbach rewarded their goaltenders’ work by upping their lead moments after Cullen Ingebritson came within inches of scoring his first MJHL goal, but the popular 18-year-old rang a shot off the post, causing teammates watching in the press box to look skyward.
Perhaps even more than Ingebritson, teammates who were not in the lineup, Max Powers-Brekke, Kasen Mateychuk, Charlie Velner, Eric Han, and William Picklyk, wanted to see the man they call ‘Jim’ find the back of the net, as all were brought to their feet on the chance, but left to wonder what could have been after it hit iron.
The entire play started 200 feet away from the Oil Caps’ net, and it took all five players in white to make it happen.
Liam Doyle won a battle in the defensive zone, knocking down a Virden forward and moved the puck behind the net to Rory Gilmour. Gilmour skated up through his own zone and sifted a pass to Jack Greenwell, who was cutting up neutral ice with speed. Greenwell drew all the attention from the defenders, allowing him to move the puck over to Green, who quickly whipped the puck across the ice to Ingebritson, who then dished it back over Greenwell, and with a wide-open net, deposited his team-leading 14th of the season, capping off a highlight reel play for a 2-0 lead.
The official goal was Greenwell from Ingebritson and Green, but everyone on the ice made it possible.
Pushing right back, Virden forced Quizi into all kinds of saves, including turning away a partial breakaway with under a minute to go in the period.
After the first period, the score was 2-0 for Steinbach, but shots were 15-8 for Virden.
Second period
Tides turned in the second, with Steinbach cutting a path to the penalty box as the Oil Caps’ continued efforts finally paid off with not only earning man advantages, but also on the scoreboard.
Through much of the middle frame, Steinbach was stuck in the mud, unable to complete passes, unable to move pucks quickly through the defensive or neutral zones, and it eventually cost them.
Quizi stood tall, doing all that he could to keep his team in the fight, but a pair of goals where the Oil Caps crashed the net, producing a pair, knotting the game up 2-2.
Shots were again in Virden’s favour, 12-5, but despite how things had played out, the Pistons were still tied, and looked to rebound in the third.
Third period
Rebound they did.
Steinbach came out as a different team in the final frame, finding their skating legs, moving pucks quickly and effectively, giving them the opportunity to grab the lead back in what turned into a wild couple of minutes at the Southeast Event Centre.
After a power play expired, Steinbach continued to work the puck in the offensive zone. Zhenya Miles called for a pass, and as the big defender tickled the rafters, loading up for a slap shot, and while the Oil Caps braced for impact, it was not enough, as he let loose a missile, finding the back of the net from the blueline to put the Pistons back up 3-2. Doyle and Greenwell had the helpers on Miles’ 4th goal of the season.
Just over a minute later, a delayed penalty gave Steinbach the opportunity for Bogart to move the puck up to Logan Mehl, who then chipped one for Gradt, and the 19-year-old did the rest. He hulked his way toward the net and forced a puck through the goalie for his 9th of the season.
Once again, refusing to go away, the Oil Caps punched right back, scoring to cut the lead to 4-3 before the sultry tones of Jamie Roy could ring out to the fans who remained on the edge of their seats for the rest of a very entertaining third period.
In the back half of the period, Virden had a golden opportunity to not only tie, but possibly grab the lead as they had a full 5-on-3 power play for two minutes.
Working around the zone, Quizi tracked the puck beautifully, keeping terrific position and making sure to keep his eye not only on the puck, but anticipate where it might be going.
Several chances were turned away by the netminder, and a key block by Bogart, which kept the Oil Caps from celebrating any goals.
The best chance came after Virden worked the puck into the slot, but Quizi used his strong lower half to push out, then reach the glove into the air, snatching the puck for what was a spectacular glove save that brought the fans to their feet, and teammates over to give him a tap of appreciation for what he was able to do.
Steinbach gutted it out, killing off the penalties and getting the game back to five on five.
Frustrated, Virden took a couple of penalties late, all but quelling any thoughts of a comeback.
Or so it appeared until the final seconds, when one of the Oil Caps, who was freed from the penalty box, stormed his way into the zone and got a great chance on goal, but Quizi made another sensational save, throwing out his blocking arm and keeping his team up by a goal, and sealing the victory.
Through it all, the Pistons managed a 4-3 win, sending the home fans to their feet in appreciation.
Game notes
The penalty kill for Steinbach turned out to be the difference. Parts of four kills in the second period and three in the third, including the full 5-on-3 for two minutes, allowed the home side to finish 7-7 on the night. The power play, which scored seconds after a man advantage had expired, finished 0-4.
Quizi was a rock, making 34 saves on 37 shots, earning him the second star of the night, along with loud cheers from the Steinbach supporters.
Jack Greenwell has now scored five goals in his last three games.
Evan Gradt has scored in three straight games and has seven points over those three games.
Brody Green busted a three-game pointless skid with a two-point effort, his 7th multi-point game of the year.
Luke Bogart made a massive, possibly game-saving block in the third period, and with his two assists, broke a five-game pointless drought.
Up next
Steinbach will be right back in action on Tuesday afternoon, as the blue and white head into Niverville to take on the Nighthawks. The Pistons are trying to chase down the Nighthawks for top spot in the MJHL.
Article Provided by Steinbachonline.com
